Cultivating Politeness: The Art of Arguing in Russian
Elevate your Russian conversations with polite debating techniques!
To argue politely in Russian, it is important to use respectful and calm language, express your opinions thoughtfully, and avoid personal attacks. Here are key polite phrases and strategies to argue politely in Russian:
Polite Disagreement Phrases
- Давай(те) спокойно всё обсудим. – “Let’s discuss it calmly.”
- Давай(те) не будем переходить на личности. – “Let’s not make it personal.”
- Давай(те) будем уважать друг друга. – “Let’s maintain respect for each other.”
- Я не согласен/согласна. – “I don’t agree.” (male/female)
- Мне кажется, что это не верно. – “It seems to me that this is not correct.”
- У меня другое мнение. – “I have a different opinion.”
- Я понимаю, что вы считаете иначе, но я с этим не согласен/согласна. – “I understand that you think differently, but I don’t agree.”
Polite Opinion Expressions
- Я считаю… – “I believe…”
- По моему мнению… – “In my opinion…”
- Мне кажется… – “It seems to me…”
- Я уверен/уверена… – “I am sure…”
Phrases to Prevent Escalating Conflict
- Нет смысла ругаться. – “There’s no point in arguing.”
- Давай(те) попробуем найти общий язык. – “Let’s try to find some common ground.”
- Как вам/тебе угодно. – “Whatever you say.”
Polite Interruption Phrases
- Извините, но… – “Excuse me, but…”
- Простите, я бы хотел(а) добавить… – “Sorry, I would like to add…”
Tone and Approach
- Use the formal “Вы” form to show respect, especially with strangers or elders.
- Avoid direct personal attacks or harsh words.
- Stay calm and express disagreement with reasons.
- Show that you value the other’s opinion even if you disagree.
By combining these expressions with a calm and respectful tone, it is possible to engage in polite arguments or discussions in Russian without offending or escalating conflict. 1, 2, 3, 4
If more detailed phrases or examples are needed, a tutorial video with 100 useful argument phrases in Russian is also available.